‖ pistoˈlese Obs. rare—1.
[It. pistolese ‘a great dagger, hanger, or wood-knife’ (Florio), a n. use of Pistolese adj., of or pertaining to Pistoia, in L. Pistorium, a town of Tuscany, still having manufacturers of iron and steel, and esp. gunmaking; cf. Sp. pistoresa poniard.]
A short sword or dagger (understood to have been made at or named from Pistoia). See pistolet1, pistol.
| 1549 T. Hoby Trav. (1902) 14 A varlett..cam behinde him and with a pistolese gave him his deathe's wounde. [Margin] A pystolese is a shorte broadsword. |